Mushroom bioactives—polysaccharides to psilocybin: a viewpoint on the therapeutic use of mushrooms for consumers and patients for health and neuroplasticity

Mushroom-derived polysaccharides and phenolic compounds have well-established metabolic health benefits. Recently, attention has returned to traditional psychotropic mushroom ingredients, especially psilocybin, for treating trauma and promoting neuroplasticity in alternative therapies. Despite heavy regulation and lack of universal government acceptance, clinicians and psychotherapists are reimagining safe, controlled use of psilocybin-based compounds for health management. This viewpoint article debates whether polysaccharides and psilocybin compounds could—or should—play an alchemical role for consumers and patients in therapeutic use as foods or medicines, what level of regulation would be required, and what safeguards should be implemented.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract The use of mushrooms in health-promoting foods and substances is widely studied. There are compelling data to indicate that polysaccharides and phenolic compounds derived from mushroom sources have long-lasting metabolic effects when ingested. More recently, attention has returned to the traditional practices of using psychotropic bioactive ingredients obtained from mushrooms for the aid of the treatment of trauma and neuroplasticity therapeutic uses in alternative health practices. While this is heavily legislated and not universally accepted in all of the governments in the world, clinicians and psychotherapy professionals are reimagining the safe and controlled use of these substances (namely psilocybin-based compounds) for health management procedures. This short viewpoint article poses the question, aiming to create a debate of the potential use, as to whether these polysaccharides and psilocybin compounds could, or even should, have an alchemical role to play for consumers and patients in terms of health and neuroplasticity in therapeutic use as foods or medicines? What level of regulation would be required? And what safeguards should be implemented?